Pain physician
-
On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed 2019 Medicare physician fee schedule and quality payment program, combining these 2 rules for the first time. This occurred in a milieu of changing regulations that have been challenging for interventional pain management specialists. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) continuous to be amended by multiple administrative changes. ⋯ The only significant change noted is for spinal cord stimulator implant leads when performed in office setting with 19.2% increase. However, epidural codes, which have been initiated with a lower payment, continue to face small reductions for physician portion. This review describes the effects of the proposed policy on interventional pain management reimbursement for E&M services, procedural services by physicians and procedures performed in office settings.
-
Previous surveys have identified variations in practice patterns related to epidural steroid injections. Since then, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required the addition of drug warning labels for injectable corticosteroids. Updated evidence, as well as scrutiny from regulatory agencies, may affect practice patterns. ⋯ Epidural injection, epidural steroids, survey, low back pain, neck pain, technique.
-
Metastatic spinal lesions are difficult-to-treat entities that are most commonly associated with pain and severely reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Within the last 5 to 10 years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as an option in the palliative treatment of vertebral metastases. ⋯ Radiofrequency ablation, vertebral metastases, metastatic spinal lesions, pain, clinical effectiveness, safety, palliative pain treatment.
-
Recent studies have shown that medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) procedures done at the level of a pedicle screw can increase pedicle screw temperature, and it has been speculated that pedicle screw heating may cause thermal injury. There has been a limited amount of investigation into the real-world safety profile of RFN procedures in patients with pedicle screws. ⋯ Radiofrequency neurotomy, medial branch nerve ablation, safety, thermal injuries, metallic spinal hardware, pedicle screws, lateral mass screws, cervical facet joints, severe complications, adverse events.
-
The growth of interventional pain medicine in recent years has resulted in more procedures being carried out under fluoroscopic guidance. The proximity of the pain physician (PP) to ionization radiation (IR) potentially increases the risk of radiation exposure to the ocular region. A European directive has reduced the limits of occupational ocular dose 7.5-fold. ⋯ Ionizing radiation, ocular, radiation protection, pain medicine, interventional.